Tips for painting your homes interior walls and ceilings

Home improvement projects are important because they help add to the aesthetics and value of your home. One of the easiest ways to spruce up the appearance of your home is to paint.  If you are thinking of painting the interior of your home yourself, then here are a few tips to help.

1. Choosing the Right Paints

There are a number of varieties of paints on the market. You can choose between oil-based or water-based paints with a range of finishes such as matte paint, eggshell, and satin paint, as well as semi-gloss and gloss paint.  Products such as Dulux Wash & Wear are ideal for the family home.

It’s a good idea to buy the best quality paint within your budget since cost is definitely an indication of quality. Paints that are more expensive have more pigments than any bargain paints and they produce a much longer-lasting, thicker and protective coating.

 2. Read the Fine Print on the Label

There is a significant amount of information printed on the label to help you. Information such as the right temperature at which the paint should be applied, how to best prepare the surface, etc. Start reading what’s printed on the label before you actually start painting.

 3. Prepare the Surface

If you want the new paint to get affixed to the surface you need to clean the walls thoroughly. This is also a great opportunity to fix any small holes, which should be filled in with putty. Wait for this to dry completely and then sand them flush to the surface.

If you find that the paint on your walls is in good condition, you can paint directly over these surfaces. If you find any old, flaking and peeling paint, make sure you scrape it and sand it well before you start painting. In case there are any bare wooden surfaces, they will have to be primed before you paint them.

well to the surfaces and you will find it flaking and blistering prematurely. You shouldn’t have to worry about this aspect too much, when you are painting the interior walls of your home though.

 4. Start from the top

It’s important that you start painting from the top. Paint the ceiling first and then tackle the walls when you are painting indoor spaces.

 5. Use a Roller and Paint Brush technique

For Ceilings

1. Begin by cutting in where the roller won’t reach. Using a brush, paint around downlights and edges to create a border. Cut in small areas at a time to ensure when you eventually paint with a roller, it’s still wet and will blend smoothly.
2. Once you’ve loaded your roller evenly with paint, begin in one corner and move fluidly in a parallel motion. For best results, work in one metre sections painting across and then down. Roll as far into the previously brushed sections as possible for best results.
3. Now that you’ve finished a large section of your ceiling, and while it’s still damp, you can begin laying off the paint. This is a crucial step in achieving a smooth and consistent finish. Using an unloaded roller begin in the top left corner of your ceiling and gently pull towards you in a straight line with no pressure. A lightness of touch will prevent new brush strokes from forming. Repeat this action, only this time, slightly overlap your last movement so your roller rubs away the line created by the previous stroke.
4. Allow the first coat to dry and repeat the total process again with a second coat if required.

For walls

1. Start by cutting in around the edges of the wall with a brush – these are areas the roller cannot easily reach.
2. Load the roller in the tray with a reasonable amount of paint.
3. Start rolling the wall in an ‘M’ pattern. Start closest to the natural light source and move away. Then continue over the same section until the wall is evenly covered.
4. Using an unloaded roller begin in the top left corner of your wall and gently let the roller roll down to the baseboards in a straight line with no pressure. A lightness of touch will prevent new brush strokes from forming. Repeat this action, only this time, slightly overlap your last movement so your roller rubs away the line created by the previous stroke. Continue this across the area you have painted. This is called laying off.
5. Reload your roller and repeat until the wall is complete.
6. Allow the first coat to dry and repeat the total process again with a second coat.

If you are thinking of selling and would like some tips on what you should or shouldn’t do to your property before listing, call us on 4421 2644 or a free, no obligation market appraisal.